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Topic: 90 vin/ serial number (Read 5254 times)

Have a 90 ? The metal tag on the frame reads 12D001703, interpreted as BS90 Deluxe, Trail and Mountain, built in April? While the frame reads, KD001703, which doesn't appear to relate to any of the downloaded Prefixes or suffixes on page 2 or 3 of the help guide. Does not have oil pump. ? Maybe I should have formed the question a little bit better. Does any one have a little more detail and can pass on the info to me as to the year ?? S

Don't take too much notice of the stamped frame number. Bridgestone used a different prefix system on these, and I haven't been able to work out what those prefixes mean. Confusingly, the frame number on my BS50 Sport appeares to be prefixed by a couple of Japanese characters (the bike came over to the UK from Kansas, so it's not a Japanese home market model).

The "12D" serial number on the metal tag tells you when the bike was built and identifies yours as a 90 Deluxe/Trail/Mountain without oil injection. The engine number should also be "12D" if it's the original unit.

Thanks for the reply, will make note and continue with the project. Since I finally got an answer to the first question I'll head on to the second one. Have completely disassembled the unit, frame tore down sent to the media blasters, engine completely down and awaiting standard parts. Starting work on the forks and shocks. Shocks no problem as to disasembly. How ever where to buy cartridges? Maybe somebody has replacement shocks out there? Need all or part. Chrome lower cover with "black" uppers. Next question, trying to separate the front forks and I "ASSUME" the chrome cover is threaded onto the main body and to completely tear down must be separated before removing inner rod. I intend to send inner rod to Forking by Frank to be copied, unless someone has a better idea ? Steve

Great info as always Graham, Thanks. The Japanese character stamps on your 50 frame are interesting, I've seen them before. I'm going to check my current frames, hopefully it's still here. I scrapped a couple that were in desecrated, unrepairable condition a while back. One was a 100sp and the other a 50sp. I wondered about the markings at the time,but had forgotten about them. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks,Mark.

I've just spotted that you asked to confirm the year of your BS90, not just the month. I reckon it would have left the Ageo factory in April 1964. The next time that the "12D" prefix came around in 1966, the serial would have been somewhere around "058xxx" so yours must be '64. It's the earliest 90 serial I've come across, probably built in the first or second month of production. That probably doesn't add much to the bike, other than being an interesting fact for you!

I've attached a pic of my own BS90 for you to see. Mine is a bit newer - born in June 1967!

GrahamA very handsome bike.2 questions:1. do you still have to have front numberplates in the UK? - we used to have ones that faced east west upto the mid 70's I think.2. Is that a seat for a 100 Sport?

The front numberplate is no longer compulsory in the U.K (since the mid-1970s), but it is not illegal to fit one. When Bridgestones were new they would all have needed front plates, and I fitted one as a period touch.

As for the seat, that isn't quite original. The bikes all came with black seats, but some of the later BS90 and BS60 models in other countries did have two-tone grey seats and I thought they looked neat. When the original black seat cover split I decide to change to get it recovered in light and dark grey.

The bikes never had turn signals (or winkers as we call 'em), but as I like to ride my bikes on the road I have fitted a set. They are from an early 60's Suzuki tiddler - the M15 / M12 / K10 / K11 series - and I think they fit in quite well on the Bridgestone. UI did manage to find a genuine Bridgestone turn signal switch, so they do look like original fitments rather than !"add ons"

If you look closely you'll spot a few other non-standard items. The front fender is off a 90 Sport (it should be silver painted, not stainless). The exhaust muffler is from an Oil Injection BS90, but I thought it looked a nicer shape than the correct "coke bottle" end type. Finally, the colour is wrong. All BS90 Deluxe over here were black and all BS90 Sports were red. I remembered that back in the late 60s a local fellow had a BS90 Sport that he'd brought back from Singapore. It was blue and I thought it looked gorgeous. I later worked out that it was the same blue used on the BS90 Trail andf BS90 Mountain models that you guys had. When I came to restore my '90 I didn't fancy black as I already had a Black and silver Suzuki 50 (M12), and then I remembered that Sinaporean 90 Sport and it just had to Metallic Blue!